My So Called Life (Love Not Included Series Book 3) (25 page)

“Well then, it’s a good thing I have a little minx like you to protect me.”

Minx Warrior at your service.

Pippa was happier than a princess being crowned with her first tiara when she saw Ian. She squealed,
literally,
as she ran and threw her little body into his waiting arms. We called Patti to let her know we’d collect Pippa from school and bring her home. She was just as happy to hear it, knowing that meant my plan worked. Gotta love those hopeless romantics.

Ian meant business when he said he wanted to make up for lost time. He had us stop at the local grocery store to collect enough food to feed an army. And yes, I said army, because Pippa asked if she could invite all her dolls and Ian kindly obliged. I couldn’t even remember the last time I went grocery shopping. Probably because it was like, a lifetime ago. Since everything I placed into the cart Ian took out, I forfeited the food duties, and climbed in the cart with Pippa for the free ride.

An hour later, an exhausted Ian, and two happy girls—one who got to pick out a gallon of strawberry milk and one who got to pick out a gallon of Pinot Noir—and we were on our way home.

Whoever says the women’s duties are in the kitchen needs to take a step back and kick themselves, because seriously, we live in the twenty-first century. And boy does this man know the way to my heart. Two steaks, a lot of moaning, double-mashed potatoes, more moaning and thirteen little plates for the princess and her flock, and we are all in our designated spots on the couch.

At the moment, Ian is rubbing my belly and I am rubbing Pippa’s. We’ll never learn.

Portion control, people, portion control.

The buzzing coming from my butt alerts all participants on the couch of my incoming call.

“Are you going to get that?” Ian asks as he slumps further into the couch.

“No, I’m too stuffed to move.”

He laughs. “Well, it’s been buzzing for quite some time now and as much as I am enjoying the light massage, I think whoever is calling wants to talk to you.”

I know it’s not Lexi. Her number is set to ring no matter what setting and since I don’t hear “Baby got back” I know she’s not the serial caller. Groaning, I sit up and fish my phone from my back pocket. The phone stops buzzing as I survey the three missed calls listed. Just then, B&B Sterling offices highlights my phone once again.

Shit.

Can this office have any worse timing for calling?

“You gonna answer that?”

His question interrupts my phone stare down. “Oh, um. No. Work stuff. Nothing important.” I give the call the ignore button and then shut down my phone, stuffing it back in my pocket.

“Shouldn’t you have taken that? Considering they keep calling you.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I’ll call them later.” Much later.

Ian is eyeing me suspiciously.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just don’t know why you don’t just take the call.”

Yeah, Chrissy, why won’t you take the call?

“Shhhhhhh!” Pippa interrupts our bickering. “I can’t hear and Belle is about to sing.”

I give Ian my ‘we just got scolded’ surprised look and lay back down into the cozy couch.

Ian wraps his arms around me and we continue watching the movie. And just while Belle sings about wanting more than a poor provincial life, I can’t stop thinking about why I won’t answer that damn call.

A
T THE SOUND OF
the birds chirping, we all fly off the couch. I run after Ian who runs after Pippa who runs into
her
room to get ready. Ian stopping abruptly sends me slamming into his back.

Hmph!

I pull my smashed face out of his back as he turns to address me. “Sorry, babe. Hey, you go shower, I’ll get Pippa ready.”

“Are you sure? We can knock both tasks out together,” I offer with a wink.

Smiling widely, he says, “As much as it pains me to turn that idea down, we need to hurry and be on time. I have a few kids that are a bit angry with me over the absence of their beloved new art coach, so I need to make sure I get you there on time.” He finishes while dodging a glass slipper tossed by Pippa, who is oblivious to our conversation.

“Really? They’ve missed me?” I ask, totally touched.

“Honey, I’m one step away from a teenage strike over there. So, yes. Go shower. We need to hurry.”

Well, alrighty then! Can’t disappoint the kids.

Some would consider it skipping. I call it happily prancing into the center with Ian in tow holding my hand. It kind of reminds me of high school, walking through the lunchroom holding hands, with everyone gawking. When Ian and I became official in high school, it was a bit of a shock. Ian, as I mentioned, was two years older than I was, a popular senior at that point and well on his way to an academic scholarship. It was strictly against high school code for the popular QB to be dating a nobody sophomore. But Ian didn’t care. He didn’t think twice about the whispers and comments behind our backs. He just cared about me and that was that. In time, the whispers disappeared and people accepted that we were actually dating and not another high school prank. I was never truly accepted into his group, but eventually he just stopped hanging out with them. I told him not to give up his life for me, but he didn’t care. His life was me
.

Ahh, high school love.
 When nothing else matters.

As we race into the center, we bump into Amber, who seems to be stalking the door. I’m gonna bet my right tit she’s been waiting for her prey to arrive. She notices me attached to Ian’s arm and bye bye happy face. Insert grumpy cat. I tell ya, this chick has a lot of facial expressions. I debate on suggesting a career change to the circus, but she also looks like she’s about to throw one of the two coffees she’s holding at my face.

I like my face.

Her piss face wearing thin, she plants on a fake smile and greets Ian as we approach. “Good morning, Ian,” she greets as sweetly as possible. Turning to me, “Christy.” She mispronounces my name as she did in high school.

Mentally, I pounce on her like a wild tiger, but since I have manners, I simply smile, ear to ear. “Hey, Amber! What’s shakin,’ girlfriend?” I practically sing it.

Hey, I said manners. I mentioned nothing about maturity.

I hear Ian muffle a laugh inside his cough. “Morning, Amber, sorry for the lateness. We miss anything so far this morning?” he inquires kindly. The word
we
of course sends Amber’s expression into overdrive because I can’t pin if she looks like she just swallowed a sour ball or doodoo.

Taking a few seconds to compose herself, she replies, but I can barely hear what she’s saying over my now obnoxious humming. “Um . . . well, you did miss Mrs. Jenkins’ call in about the donations for the charity being headed in the winter.” She pauses to give me the evil eye. “She was very disappointed to not catch you.”

More humming I go.

“She said she will try back later today to schedule a phone conference with both of us.” I can barely stop from breaking into a fit of giggles. I feel Ian squeeze my hand tighter as he catches on to my beat.

“Excuse me but what is
wrong
with you? And why are you humming?” she snaps at me.

“Who, me?” I smile with my shiny white teeth showing. “I’m sorry, I guess I’m just in such a good mood today after Ian and I made us official and I’ve decided to stay.”
Direct hit.
She couldn’t hide her facial expression if she tried. Her fake smile falls right off her ugly fake face as she turns for confirmation from Ian. Of course, his smile confirms her fears.

Winner!

“Oh, I see.”

“I know, right! Isn’t it great?” I beam. “And if that didn’t make your day, Amber, Ian’s offered me the art counselor spot permanently!” I boast so brightly I think I might have electrocuted her since she literally twitches with each word leaving my mouth.

She turns to Ian. “What? What about Holly? We can’t just give away her position when she’s out on leave.”

“I spoke to Holly last week, and she doesn’t think she’ll be coming back. Plus, she said if she did it would only be a few hours a week. This way Chrissy can run the program and if Holly does return, she can assist Chris wherever she can.” He lifts our entwined hands to his lips and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles and smiles.

KO, girlfriend! As they say, you mess with the bull, you get the horns. At that final blow, Amber adjusts her posture to back straight. Deciding this fight is over, she pushes the extra cup of coffee at Ian, and he grabs it before it splashes down his shirt.

“Well, we’ll have to run your references and background check. We simply cannot just hire you on faith. The center is very important and—”

Her useless rant is cut short by Greg, who comes running into the hallway bouncing his basketball.

“Awesome! Yo, Ms. C. You’re back!” He reaches us and wraps his arms around my waist, giving me a huge bear hug.

“Whoa. Hey, Greg. Thanks. I’m glad to be back,” I say with a genuine smile.

“You came back just in time. The dance is in a few weeks and we need your help with the decorations,” he bursts out.

“Dance?” I ask, confused. “What dance?”

Amber jumps in. “Oh, it’s nothing. Greg, I will be taking care of—”

“The end of summer dance, Ms. C. We need you to help us with all the decorations. The art class has been working on them all week.” He pauses to fumble through his back pocket and hands me a folded piece of paper.

I unfold an invitation to the center’s End of Summer Dance.

“So, since you’re back, you think you’d be my date to the dance?”

I feel my heart grow as I look from the invitation to this wonderful kid learning how to grow up on the right path. “I would love—”

“Greg, buddy,” Ian steps in, “actually she’s going to be my date for the evening.” He’s staking his claim. “But how about I promise to step aside and she can save a dance just for you?”

At that, Greg smiles and nods. “You got it, Mr. W. I’m down with that. See you at class, Ms. C.” He bounces his ball once, winks at Ian, and then takes off toward the art room.

Ian finishes laughing at Greg’s antics. “Well, let’s not let the day get away from us.” He turns and lays a wet kiss on my smiling lips. “Have a good day, dear.” His smile covers his whole face. Before he has the chance to turn, I grab the coffee he’s holding. “I will, dear.” I wink and turn to Amber. “And thanks for the coffee, Amber. I really need the caffeine jolt. Long night.”

Then I wink.

I turn and walk away singing my previous tune.

Which happens to be the lyrics to Hall and Oats’
“She’s a Maneater
.
”